diff --git a/src/backends/file/leaser.ts b/src/backends/file/leaser.ts
index 262ff64..4b86a26 100644
--- a/src/backends/file/leaser.ts
+++ b/src/backends/file/leaser.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  */
 
 import { createHash } from 'node:crypto';
-import { open, readFile, rename, rm, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { link, readFile, rename, rm, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
 import nodePath from 'node:path';
 
 import {
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ import {
 } from '../../leaser.ts';
 import { FileReplicaError } from '../../errors.ts';
 
+// Disambiguates temp files written in the same millisecond by this process.
+let tmpSeq = 0;
+
 function sha256(data: Uint8Array): string {
   return createHash('sha256').update(data).digest('hex');
 }
@@ -82,10 +85,13 @@ export class FileLeaser implements Leaser {
     const bytes = encodeLease(lease);
 
     if (existing === null) {
-      // Exclusive create so we do not clobber a concurrent acquirer.
-      let fh;
+      // Exclusive create so we do not clobber a concurrent acquirer. Write a
+      // temp file and hard-link it into place so the lock appears atomically
+      // with its full contents; a racing reader never sees an empty file.
+      const tmp = `${this.lockPath}.tmp-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}-${tmpSeq++}`;
+      await writeFile(tmp, bytes);
       try {
-        fh = await open(this.lockPath, 'wx');
+        await link(tmp, this.lockPath);
       } catch (err) {
         const code = (err as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code;
         if (code === 'EEXIST') {
@@ -97,12 +103,12 @@ export class FileLeaser implements Leaser {
           return this.acquireLease();
         }
         throw err;
+      } finally {
+        await rm(tmp, { force: true });
       }
-      await fh.write(bytes);
-      await fh.close();
     } else {
       // Existing lease expired: atomically replace it.
-      const tmp = `${this.lockPath}.tmp-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}`;
+      const tmp = `${this.lockPath}.tmp-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}-${tmpSeq++}`;
       await writeFile(tmp, bytes);
       await rename(tmp, this.lockPath);
     }
@@ -118,7 +124,7 @@ export class FileLeaser implements Leaser {
 
     const renewed = new Lease(lease.generation, Date.now() + this.ttlMs, lease.owner);
     const bytes = encodeLease(renewed);
-    const tmp = `${this.lockPath}.tmp-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}`;
+    const tmp = `${this.lockPath}.tmp-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}-${tmpSeq++}`;
     await writeFile(tmp, bytes);
     await rename(tmp, this.lockPath);
 
diff --git a/src/replica.ts b/src/replica.ts
index 73369c0..f20dae0 100644
--- a/src/replica.ts
+++ b/src/replica.ts
@@ -306,6 +306,9 @@ export class Replica {
 
   set leaser(leaser: Leaser | null) {
     this.leaserValue = leaser;
+    // Mirror the constructor: a newly set leaser is not held until acquired.
+    // While running, {@link run} owns the primary state.
+    if (!this.runActive) this.leasePrimary = leaser === null;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/test/integration/leasing.test.ts b/test/integration/leasing.test.ts
index 455f5f3..d7a93b5 100644
--- a/test/integration/leasing.test.ts
+++ b/test/integration/leasing.test.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,30 @@ describe('FileLeaser', () => {
     void expired;
     await rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
   });
+
+  test('concurrent acquires: exactly one wins, the rest see LeaseExistsError', async () => {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 50; i++) {
+      const dir = makeTempDir('lease-race-');
+      const results = await Promise.allSettled(
+        Array.from({ length: 4 }, () => new FileLeaser(dir).acquireLease()),
+      );
+      const won = results.filter((r) => r.status === 'fulfilled');
+      assert.equal(won.length, 1);
+      for (const r of results) {
+        if (r.status === 'rejected') assert.ok(r.reason instanceof LeaseExistsError, String(r.reason));
+      }
+      await rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+test('setting a leaser makes the replica a follower until it acquires', () => {
+  const replica = new Replica('/nonexistent.db', new FileReplicaClient(makeTempDir('lease-set-')));
+  assert.ok(replica.isPrimary());
+  replica.leaser = new FileLeaser(makeTempDir('lease-set-'));
+  assert.ok(!replica.isPrimary());
+  replica.leaser = null;
+  assert.ok(replica.isPrimary());
 });
 
 describe('Replica.run() with a leaser (primary/follower)', () => {